The battle to represent the heart of Houston's long underrepresented Latino community in Congress has drawn a most unexpected name.

Tahir Javed.

He's an outsider in the 29th congressional district. He's not Latino. He's never lived in the congressional district he is running in until now. And he's never run for office in his life.

But what he does have is lots of money he's not afraid to put into the campaign, ties to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and what he says is a kinship with Latino voters in the area because of his own struggles as an immigrant.

"Our struggle is the same," the 51-year-old Pakistani native said. "I was told 'go back to your country' many times."

But nearly 16 years after he arrived in Beaumont with just $500 to his name, Javed now is a wealthy businessman who turned a single convenience store business into a 28-company enterprise that includes hospitals, distribution networks and real estate businesses.

After years of donating money to candidates, including hosting a major fundraiser with Clinton in Beaumont, Javed said this time he wants to be the one that goes to Washington to fight for the Houston area on Capitol Hill.

Javed is one of seven Democrats in a battle for the seat represented by U.S. Rep. Gene Green since 1992. Green, a Houston Democrat, announced in October he wound not seek re-election. The primary election is March 6. Early voting starts on Feb. 20.

The district is one of the most heavily Latino districts in the nation and includes much of the Greater East End, South Houston and Pasadena. Of the 765,000 people who live in the 29th congressional district, 77 percent are Hispanic according to the U.S. Census. Of that nearly more than 88 percent list themselves as having a Mexican background.

Only five congressional districts in the nation have a higher percentage of Hispanic residents than the Green district, according to the Pew Research Center.

But while many see it as a chance for Houston to elect a Latino to Congress for the first time in the city's history, Javed said he's perfectly positioned to represent the area in Washington.

Javed said he's always focused his businesses in underserved communities to help people, even when he could make bigger profits elsewhere. He points to a medical facility he is opening in Galena Park as evidence of his mission.

"A lot of my businesses are in underserved areas," he said. "This is my passion."

He said the district needs a strong voice to help work on big needs in the communities, like access to health care, better schools, better roads and higher wages.

"I have a proven history," Javed said of his business success. "We walked into where there was a need. I understand health care. I can do it with so minimum resources. I've developed a system where we don't waste money. We just do it."

Javed is already putting up billboards, hiring seasoned political staff and opened a headquarters off Shaver Street. He said he's already raised more than $252,000 for his campaign, but says if he feels it's necessary he will pour his own money into the race as well.

Garcia looms

It's all caught the attention of State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, who many saw as a clear front runner for the Democratic nomination before Javed jumped into the race.

"We need a champion for the people now more than ever," Garcia said about her candidacy.

Garcia, 67, has a long history in politics and in the district. Garcia was the city controller from 1998 to 2002, then a Harris County Commissioner from 2002 to 2010. She has been in the State Senate since 2013. At her campaign headquarters grand opening off Harrisburg Boulevard, Garcia said the community really needs someone with experience and a track record.

"It's about who knows the district, who lives and breaths the issues that people care about in this district," Garcia said. "Its really hard for anyone to vote for someone who is from out of town who has no feel for the area and is just trying to come in with a lot of money."

Javed just moved to the district last month, after living primarily in Beaumont since he arrived in the United States. According to the Jefferson County records, Javed holds a homestead exemption on a 9,000 square foot home in Beaumont. Javed said he's changing that homestead and now lives in the 29th Congressional District.

"It's about who has a track record of getting things done for working families," Garcia said. "It's a tough sell if you live in a mansion and you drive a Bentley."

On Javed's Facebook page he featured a photo of him and his wife in a Bentley. He took that photo down within the last couple of weeks.

Javed is hoping his connections to Clinton and her presidential campaign will pay off. Javed was part of her finance team and traveled the nation for her to help raise money and support her campaign he said. He even hosted a fundraiser for Clinton in Beaumont that netted more than $500,000.

Javed himself ended up donating $171,000 to Clinton campaign or her political action committee called Hillary Victory Fund.

"She just changed my life," Javed said.

When she gave her concession speech after losing to Donald Trump, Javed was on the front row and the two talked for several minutes with her encouraging him to stay active politically and keep fighting for Democratic ideals.

"I did not go home," Javed said. "I started helping other candidates. I started helping other Democratic candidates. I realized there is more work that is needed to be done."

In addition to backing his own campaign, Javed has donated $10,000 to help U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri in her re-election campaign.

Garcia said she's known the Clinton's since they started in Arkansas and isn't intimidated in the least about going up against one of Hillary Clinton's big donors.

Javed and Garcia face a crowded field of candidates in the primary, though none have ever held public office before. The other candidates include Marine veteran Augustine Reyes, real estate agent Dominique Michelle Garcia, teacher Hector Morales, businessman Pedro Valencia and attorney Roel Garcia.

Four Republicans are running in the GOP's primary on March 6. The winner of the primary between Carmen Maria Montiel, Jaimy Z. Blanco, Phillip Aronoff and Robert Schafranek would face the winner of the Democratic primary in November.

Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace.